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As a casual daily music listener, it’s easy to take for granted why your favorite songs sound so good. All you know is that when you turn the volume up and hear the rattling bass that gets you hyped or the crisp blend of choruses, to which you sing along in the shower, they transport you elsewhere on an album’s journey. Developing a new curiosity about how critical mixing and engineering impact music’s final product, I recently discovered a fascinating world that’s as much artistic as it is technical which deserves utmost respect. Delving into my favorite albums and songs throughout the years with this lens, one name popped up over and over again- Neal Pogue.

Every NAMM Show to which I’m blessed to attend, I excitedly peruse the performing booth/room schedules from companies like D’Angelico Guitars who are bound to have amazing guitarists imperative to check out. One such guitarist’s name caught my eye -Noé Socha. From the first video I’d seen of Italian-born Brooklyn-based musician Noé playing with Marcus Machado and Clark Sims on Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground”, I needed to know more. Listening to his brilliant harmonica and blues guitar filled 2024 album ‘Simplebluesboy’ and seeing him play to a packed room with fellow guitarist Rock Choi further confirmed my belief everyone needs to peep this dude’s music immediately.

Perusing the 2025 NAMM Show schedule, my eyes immediately locked into musical trio, The String Revolution’s name. Coming across their Grammy Award-winning blazing phenomenal cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” last year, I knew I needed to connect with the group’s fascinating mastermind Janet Robin. Setting forth on her musical path early on in North Hollywood, California, being taught for four years under the tutelage of none other than future guitar legend Randy Rhoads, she’d eventually live many musical phases, moving on to serve as lead guitarist in Precious Metal, working with Heart, Poison and Cheap Trick.

Viewing the 2025 NAMM Show performance schedule, I devoted time each day to peep live amazing live acts from a myriad of music genres. Arriving on Wednesday, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch hip-hop and R&B/soul string quartet wholesoul at the cozy Westin Hotel which served as the perfect venue to showcase the group’s skills as their music floated in the air from afar. Featuring Julliard classically trained violist Drew Forde aka “ThatViolaKid” among the foursome, their short set flew by.

Closing a sensitive and action-packed activity filled NAMM Show week, the 13th Annual She Rocks Awards gathered business and artistic powerhouses together to acknowledge this year’s selected eclectic group of women’s significant achievements. Each honoree could not be more different from each other in terms of their paths into music, but all shared a visible passion that they bring to their respective careers daily.

Returning to NAMM Show held annually by the largest world non-profit music trade org, 1852 companies representing 4300 brands descended upon Anaheim and excitedly displayed the latest and greatest music technology as you might expect. This year, however, the LA Fires which wreaked unexpected havoc and smoldered an hour away were on attendees’ minds as some Angelenos there naturally wanted to swap survivor stories in the convention center hallways and LA Wildfire Relief Fund donations were collected via QR code. Immediately acknowledged on NAMM’s Media Day, the music community’s outpouring of support for their affected brethren set the tone for the next five days as a tragedy such as this is an obvious reminder now, more than ever, to live in the moment and cherish the joy creating and listening to music brings.

As 2025 kicks off, the natural year reset and hunt for new music begins yet again. Coming across legendary musical vet Ringo Starr’s new country, rock and bluegrass-tinged album ‘Look Up’, co-written and produced by fellow musical icon T Bone Burnett, this latest project arrived at the perfect time, featuring Nashville’s best and brightest. Assembling an all-star group of collaborators like Billy Strings, Allison Krauss, Larkin Poe, Molly Tuttle and Lucius, the 36 minutes of the album fly quickly by. Ringo’s solo record return to country after releasing ‘Beaucoup of Blues’ in 1970 adds another welcome chapter to a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s already storied career. To mark Look Up’s release, Ringo and T Bone recently gathered another Avenger type live concert special lineup featuring the likes of Jack White, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Brenda Lee and more.

Looking back at the highlights of 2024, one shining moment comes to mind. Reading the list of honorees for this year’s 12th annual She Rocks Awards, my excitement piqued as I read Debbie Gibson’s name, a woman who needs no introduction. For any little kid growing up in NY in the late 80’s, it was a given you’d hear one of her songs she’d written blasting out of backseat car speakers or see one of her unforgettable videos if you were lucky enough to have early MTV.

As I wrap up this musical year, I ponder my favorite moments of 2024, and one clear standout came during this year’s impressive annual NAMM Show. Perusing the list of performing acts, I knew I couldn’t miss Yamaha’s Grand Plaza Stage Night of Worship with Take 6. Hooked since I heard “Spread Love’ as a kid, the acapella legendary gospel and jazz sextet livened the crowd’s spirit and did not disappoint live.

Anyone who’s listened to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” featuring newcomer chart topper Shaboozey or recently watched the Christmas halftime show featuring Compton Cowboys and the first black rodeo queen, knows black country music hit the mainstream cultural zeitgeist in a big way in 2024. One person who knew its potential and always understood its cultural roots and significance is Black Opry founder Holly G. After not seeing herself being represented within the country music scene, she’s broken-down racial barriers since 2021 for black country artists in Nashville, a place with a documented history of racism and a storied rep for not being welcoming to those in the genre with brown skin.

As the world watched the events of the U.S. election unfold last week, reactions from Kamala Harris supporters ran the gamut from outrage to sorrow to shock and disgust. Within tumult throughout the decades, artists have always found the perfect way to capture sentiments of what we’re feeling just at the perfect time. One such primed album reaching our ears when we needed it most is Charlie Castell’s impassioned latest effort ‘Beautiful Apocalypse’.

Throughout the 2010’s, nestled in North Carolina’s Bull City stood one of the premier jazz and R&B festivals. Assembling historic lineups with ease, where one could view legendary and rising talent favs at several venues across Durham, the Art of Cool Fest became a yearly highlight. During its second year, it drew bandleader, film and TV composer Kris Bowers. Connecting with him then in 2015, he spoke of working on Showtime’s Kobe Bryant ‘Muse’ documentary and the booked and busy musical road ahead of him.

As images of elaborate floats descend down historic New Orleans streets and mid-air bead tossing continue into the late night hours, one can’t help but get swept up in the mardi gras madness. An album that perfectly encapsulates this distinct time of year and its special festive atmosphere is Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s “Uptown On Mardi Gras Day”. Whether it’s the “Mardi Gras Mambo” or the “Uptown Boogie”, this 2023 12-song offering takes the listener down to Bourbon St right quick.

If you’ve gone to a Halsey, Kehlani, Selena Gomez or Post Malone show recently, you’ve seen an unforgettably striking keyboardist rocking alongside these artists. Her name is Bonnie McIntosh and her synth sounds and talent matched with her rock punk signature style have steadily made her an in-demand touring musician over the past few years. Studying classical piano in childhood and college, you can slyly hear those influences on some of the biggest stages around the world.